404 THE SEAT OF DURTEE OHMED. 



it was wrapt up in. Then came the question how 

 had I been able to procure the return of the 

 wooden pillow ; for Allee, as soon as I had 

 given it to him, changed his previous tale of its 

 having been stolen, and asserted he had left it 

 behind at a halting-place, some days' journey dis- 

 tance, from whence my familiar spirit had brought 

 it at my command. This I satisfactorily explained 

 by relating the whole circumstances ; and Allee 

 being laughed at for his credulity, now fell back 

 upon the circumstance of my keeping the fedeenah, 

 without any inquiry as to whom it belonged, to 

 excuse his theft of the paper. 



Abu Bukeree's daughter brought some milk he 

 had promised me, and begged hard for a dollar in 

 silver. I referred her to Ohmed Mahomed, who, 

 at my request, gave her, but very unwillingly, a 

 head-covering of blue sood, and sent her away. 



Our camp was about half a mile from the village 

 of Durtee Ohmed, who was, as I was told, then on an 

 expedition against the Alia Gallas, assisting a party 

 of Wahama, who had gone to retaliate for some 

 recent outrages committed by that people. In ac- 

 cordance with the request of Lieut. Barker, I 

 intended to have given him a present, on being 

 introduced to him, similar to the one I gave Abu 

 Bukeree, and had provided five dollars for that 

 purpose ; as he was from home, however, I fancied 

 they were so many dollars saved, put them up 

 again, and thought no more of the matter. 



